Chenery Retrotech

Chenery Retrotech Chenery Retrotech - think outside the box. Instead of "It'll do", how about "I want that".

I needed a bit of patience for this one.Long story short, I pulled all the wiring and switches out of the SR's left swit...
28/03/2026

I needed a bit of patience for this one.

Long story short, I pulled all the wiring and switches out of the SR's left switch block, brushed-back the black paint, sprayed it with clear and put it back together. If you look at the photos, you'll see the painstaking process with the 1983 wiring😆.

Oh well, it was interesting. I'll get to the right side when I can...

Finally trying out the shrinker on the corners of this body section.You can just see how it crimps the mild steel. It's ...
18/03/2026

Finally trying out the shrinker on the corners of this body section.
You can just see how it crimps the mild steel. It's only a small, basic one, but it works.
Smooth and round it out a bit on the English wheel...I think this is a good start. This is my third go at this body section - I'm not stopping until I'm actually happy with it😆 - but this one's looking promising.🙂

I've been meaning to swap the little blue vice for the big m***a green one for ages!This is another top-notch, last-fore...
15/03/2026

I've been meaning to swap the little blue vice for the big m***a green one for ages!
This is another top-notch, last-forever tools that Dad set aside for me ages ago. I'd been reluctant to mount it on this bench because the vice is bloody heavy but I need something to reliably hold my little shrinker-stretcher tools, so I'm going to give it a chance.
I'm not sure if this is another of my granddad's old workshop tools, but it still works well either way!👍

So this side cover was going pretty well until I decided to weld up that rounded join in the corner...I think my amperag...
06/02/2026

So this side cover was going pretty well until I decided to weld up that rounded join in the corner...I think my amperage was a bit high.
As you can see from the last couple of pics, I scattered a bit of excess around to see if I could build it up, but it's pretty messy and I don't think it would be as strong as I'd like.😆
On the upside, it's a lesson learned. I'm going to start again using some metal that Mum was able to spare from her old dismantled shed. Let's see if I can learn some tricks with the wheel.🙂

Everyone I've told that I was going to buy a bead roller has given me the same questioning look. This is it!😆Before you ...
05/01/2026

Everyone I've told that I was going to buy a bead roller has given me the same questioning look. This is it!😆

Before you ask, it's used for pressing grooves and the like into sheet metal (basically). This is only a small one, but I'm only planning on using it for motorbike bodywork parts.🙂

Trying to learn how to use this welder.🤔After lots of YouTube tutorials, general research and buying safety stuff, I'll ...
24/10/2025

Trying to learn how to use this welder.🤔
After lots of YouTube tutorials, general research and buying safety stuff, I'll try and do some actual welding today.
I've been wanting to attach this loop for ages. I've just tacked it for now, but I think it's a good start.🙂

I've been putting off the Desmo service until the last minute...but it turned out to be pretty painless and even cost le...
12/09/2025

I've been putting off the Desmo service until the last minute...but it turned out to be pretty painless and even cost less than I expected.
Gowanloch Ducati in Kingsgrove were tipped to be the experts, and I left Bex with them all week, given they had a pretty full house. They told me that mine was such a good price (less than $2k) because I maintain her so well.
There's nothing 'disorderly' about OCD, right?😉😁
I might need to bring her back to her a seal in the forks checked out, but I'm really impressed with these guys so had to give them props.👍

The Ducati is getting her major service, so I thought I should spend some time with the much-neglected Yamaha...
10/09/2025

The Ducati is getting her major service, so I thought I should spend some time with the much-neglected Yamaha...

So, if you can't be fkt watching the reel (pretty amateur, I know😆), here's a summary of today's work on the Yammie.Fron...
10/09/2025

So, if you can't be fkt watching the reel (pretty amateur, I know😆), here's a summary of today's work on the Yammie.
Front guard - I've been meaning to try this for ages. I'm trying a chrome old-style front guard from a Chinese 125...I had to modify it a little bit to mount it. Looks like it's meant for a wheel 1 inch less diameter but🤷
Rear brake - I wanted to get the pedal on, so I just did the whole thing. It's so simple, I love it.😆
Engine side case - this was off when I bought the SR from a guy cleaning out his shed. Had to ransack my spares drawers for some little bolts, but it's on. I'll make up a gasket when I get a chance.

I even got a chance to hook up the front brake, the engine electrics and the clutch. The Ducati's getting her desmo service this week, so I'm feeling her loss and need something with two wheels to work on! I'll get back to the Yammie again soon!

Haven't posted in a while, I know.Anyway, I was taking Bex out and saw this little exhaust pipe cover was missing. It's ...
14/04/2025

Haven't posted in a while, I know.
Anyway, I was taking Bex out and saw this little exhaust pipe cover was missing. It's carbon fibre (well, it says it is), so pretty expensive for what it is. I thought I might just see if I can knock one up.🤷
Had some metal lying around from fixing stuff around the house. A bit of cutting, bashing and painting, and I think it looks ok.
What do you think?🤔 Just scroll through the pics to see a summary.

I'm thinking I like the lower mount with the little visor fairing, but I'll sleep on it. Looks a bit meaner in any case😆...
24/10/2024

I'm thinking I like the lower mount with the little visor fairing, but I'll sleep on it. Looks a bit meaner in any case😆 I should put the front guard on too for a proper look🤔

If you're wondering why I feel a need for the visor, don't forget that I have that gauge cluster to reattach yet.

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